How dsm-firmenich produces solutions that are better for the health of people and the health of the planet

• The food and nutrition industry is under growing pressure to improve the sustainability of the supply chain.
• With consumers increasingly finding environmental claims appealing, dsm-firmenich is continually investing in the more sustainable production of nutritional solutions that help keep the world’s growing population healthy.
• Read on to discover more about dsm-firmenich’s commitment to greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets and what makes Quali®-C the lowest carbon footprint vitamin C on the market.

Sustainability is a key concern for consumers worldwide, with data from Nielsen indicating that 81% of consumers strongly feel that companies should do their part to help improve the environment.¹ What’s more, the recent health crisis has refocused efforts to create a brighter world: 65% of global consumers state “that it is important that climate change is prioritized in the economic recovery after coronavirus”.² When it comes to buying food, beverages and supplements, people are searching for products they deem to be more sustainable and eco-friendly. 56% of consumers look out for environmentally friendly claims and 46% check for claims relating to a reduced or zero carbon footprint.³

So how does dsm-firmenich support food, beverage and supplement manufacturers in creating solutions that promote the health and wellbeing of people worldwide, while also limiting the impact their operations have on the planet?

Science-based targets

As a purpose-led organization, dsm-firmenich is committed to improving the quality of people’s lives by contributing to healthier diets and a healthier planet and society. In 2019, dsm-firmenich was the first company amongst its peers to have GHG emission reduction targets reviewed and approved by the Science Based Targets initiative.

Through our sustainability targets, dsm-firmenich committed to an absolute 30% reduction in scope 1 and scope 2 emissions from operations by 2030 against the baseline in 2016. Scope 1 emissions are direct emissions from sources owned or controlled by dsm-firmenich, while scope 2 accounts for indirect emissions from the generation of purchased electricity, steam, heating and cooling used for our operations. As for scope 3 emissions, which are indirectly produced by activities across the value chain and contribute to over 80% of dsm-firmenich’s total GHG emissions, we’re committed to our target of reducing these by 28% per ton of product by 2030.

Case study: Quali®-C – the vitamin C with the lowest carbon footprint on the market

The continuous improvement of working methods and production processes in dsm-firmenich’s certified manufacturing sites plays a central role in minimizing our use of raw materials and energy, while reducing our GHG and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions. 

Take Quali®-C. dsm-firmenich's branded vitamin C is a great example of our commitment to sustainable, high quality production methods, allowing dietary supplement and food and beverage manufacturers to develop nutritional solutions that can help create brighter lives for all, while limiting the impact their operations have on the planet.  

Thanks to closer collaboration with our raw material suppliers, we have been able to further reduce the carbon footprint of Quali®-C — already the lowest carbon vitamin C on the market. Compared to the main alternative source, Quali®-C offers 65% lower GHG emissions and an 87% reduction in dust and particulate matter (PM 2.5) emissions to help improve local air quality. In fact, buying 1,000 tonnes of Quali®-C vs the alternative commercially available vitamin C would save 13,300 tonnes of CO2E – that is equivalent to the carbon offset by 210,000 tree seedlings grown for 10 years!

Purpose-led progress

Since implementing our science-backed targets, we’ve made significant progress towards our 2030 sustainability goals. As published in our 2020 Annual Report, we have already achieved an 18% reduction in scope 1 and scope 2 GHG emissions against our 30% target for 2030, as well as a scope 3 emission intensity reduction of 5% versus our target of 28%. These results indicate our clear commitment to the environment and achieving our 2030 targets.

Being transparent about sustainability data is key to building trust and working collaboratively to achieve wider global climate objectives. When you partner with dsm-firmenich, you don’t just get access to our broad portfolio of science-backed products, customized solutions and expert services. We partner with our customers to help them bring sustainability strategies to life – all with the aim of creating a more sustainable food system through efficient, effective collaboration across the value chain. Sustainability is our priority, and we welcome engagement from our customers and wider supply chain stakeholders on how we can work together to shape a low carbon future.